3.1 Land Use and Water Resources Research Land-use impacts on river water quality in lowveld sand river systems in south-east Zimbabwe Clifford Tafangenyasha and Tariro Dzinomwa Department of Environmental Science and Health, National University of Science and Technology, P O Box AC 939 Ascot, Bulawayo, Zimbabwe Abstract We examined spatial patterns of physico-chemico characteristics and nutrients of freshwater lotic systems in impaired waters in sand river systems in a semi-arid tropical lowveld region of south-east Zimbabwe, from August 2003 to April 2004. These changes were viewed in the context of effluent discharge and land use. The high concentrations of dissolved compounds in the Runde River shows that the chemical composition of this river water is determined largely by the inflowing waters from surrounding irrigated lands. The elevated levels in nutrients recorded along the Runde River suggest that agricultural activities are a key determinant of ecosystem structure and function, especially of algal and invertebrate biomass and productivity in the south-east river systems. This study also shows that nutrient eutrophication of lotic systems may have indirect beneficial impacts on the fish population through increased fish food supply. Lotic ecosystems should be viewed as being influenced profoundly by agricultural activities. Introduction Rivers as sinks of pollutants are the effective transport medium from factory sites and sewage works (Jackson and The effects of land use in tropical semi-arid areas have Jackson, 1998). Within a flowing stream there is a constant many noticeable impacts on aquatic ecosystems that pose attrition of organic and inorganic materials to downstream water conservation challenges. A growing body of literature areas. Drift material may be exploited either as food or as has focused on riffled streams (Gratwick, 1998/1999; elemental nutrients by various trophic levels in the stream, Benfield et al., 2000) predominantly in temperate climates contributing to enrichment and eutrophication of the eventual where environmental conditions are somewhat different receiving water (Grant, 1975; Schneider et al., 2000, Wetzel, from semi-arid sand river systems in lowlands. Novotny et 2001; Whitton, 1975). In flood, the south-east lowveld al. (2005) have illuminated the role that biological rivers are brown, silty and fast-flowing, with a high content monitoring can have in water quality and conservation. The of suspended silt from upstream catchments. The rivers growing need to preserve and restore the physical, chemical pick up soil and, by dissolving, eroding and leaching, and biological integrity of rivers and other waterbodies is acquire additional dissolved components, the concentrations implicit in several ongoing studies (Van der Merwe et al., of which vary due to changes in flow and other seasonal 1993; Buermann et al., 1995; Marx and Avenant-Oldewage, effects. 1998; Don-Pedro et al., 2004; Novotny et al., 2005). This The south-easterly flowing Runde River has one of the has become necessary to maintain the diversity of species largest catchments in Zimbabwe. Although plankton, fish and water quality. Stricter legislation has already been and other fauna have been studied following pollution enforced worldwide on mining, industry and agriculture to inputs in South African lowveld river systems (Buermann protect natural waterbodies. Prior to the promulgation of et al., 1995; Heritage and Niekerk, 1995; Heritage and The Environmental Management Bill on 03 March 2003 in Large, 2001; Van der Merwe et al., 1993; Marx and Avenant- Zimbabwe, the lack of harmonised legislation led to the Oldewage, 1998), a census of the present status of the current problem of polluted rivers, the sandy Runde River macrobenthic community in the Runde River and its low- in south-east Zimbabwe being an example. order streams is necessary due to increased pollution, Land Use and Water Resources Research 5 (2005) 3.1–3.10 (http://www.luwrr.com) © Venus Internet 3.2 Land Use and Water Resources Research population explosion and anthropogenic activities in and One of the potential problems is that the Runde River around the catchment. water is likely to have a very high rate nutrient loading in the The composition, diversity and density of aquatic form of artificial fertilisers from agricultural runoff. Should organisms maybe affected by various stressors. Aquatic this happen, the river water will become hypereutrophic, organisms respond to their immediate stresses such as lack leading to algal blooms. This loss of water quality will not of food, exposure to toxic effects of pollutants, including affect irrigation until the aquatic weeds interfere with pH or temperature, and absence of an adequate habitat; they pumping operations. The biological productivity of aquatic do not respond directly to stresses in the catchment, such as ecosystems is usually determined by the concentration of diffuse pollution. These stresses are transmitted through phosphorous and nitrogen and unless well planned and various pathways, modified, attenuated and transformed monitored, domestic sewage overflow and discharge from into the stresses that affect the aquatic biota directly. The the sugar estate sectional housing units could affect river stresses may be long-term, transient, periodic and random water quality. (Novotny et al., 2005). These parameters define the niche It has therefore become necessary to assess the effect of of the macroinvertebrates which may change throughout habitat destabilisation and modification caused by the year. In polluted water environments of south-east agricultural runoff and sewage discharge on water quality Zimbabwe, environmental factors may affect presence and and aquatic organisms in the sandy river systems of south- absence of aquatic taxa. The human disturbance of the river east Zimbabwe lowveld, with a view to assessing the waters through point source and diffuse pollution impacts problem, proffer solutions and prevent defaunation. on various aquatic organisms by altering the physical, Measuring the stream biota provides a direct assessment of chemical and biological integrity of rivers. the resource condition because the characteristics of the The sand river systems have been described as being biota reflect the influence of human activity (Novotny et al., considerably impoverished in organic matter. As Marshall 2005). If biological assemblages are not present at the level (1972) puts it, the fauna of a polluted, sandy stream- bed is expected then almost certainly human influences are poor in species, numbers and biomass. This is exacerbated degrading the streams. Water pollution monitoring in the by the scouring effect brought on by floods in the rainy river systems of south-east Zimbabwe can help provide a season and there is little opportunity for organic matter to useful basis for early warning systems for pollution events accumulate. This in contrast to weirs, dams and other propagating downstream. barriers that may allow organic matter to accumulate, such that these areas support a greater biomass than unobstructed streams. Study area The Runde River is enriched with nutrients while passing through an agricultural area and then receives sewage The study area included the area drained by the Chiredzi, effluent that will support an algal bloom. Nitrates, phosphates Mtirikwi, Tokwe and Runde Rivers, about 350 km south- and sulphates are applied in fertilisers to grow crops (Hippo east of Harare (Fig.1). The study area is underlain by granite Valley, 1995). Elevated nutrients in the watercourses present and gneiss, but in the east volcanics and rocks of Karoo age additional feeding resources and challenges to aquatic form the geological template. This study area was selected organisms. Foraging decisions, or opportunities, affect the because it covers a wide range of typical Zimbabwean land fitness of individual nymphs and this may be reflected in the uses, including sugarcane production at Triangle Sugar wide size range of contemporary nymphs found in field Estates and Hippo Valley Estates, and sugarcane processing populations (Williams et al., 1993). Variation in foraging mills at Hippo Valley and Triangle. efficiency by predators and evasion success by prey, across The Runde River is typically an East Coast River with substrate types, is thought to contribute to the well-known sandy bottoms and little aquatic plant coverage (Bell-Cross microdistribution patterns of species observed in lotic and Minshull, 1988). The Runde River and the other eastward communities (Williams et al., 1993; Novotny et al., 2005). flowing rivers such as the Save River probably derived their These habitat shifts have been interpreted as the result of fauna from the large south-eastern Zaire tributary the the optimal foraging and antipredatory behaviour, and they Lualaba plus an element from the Nile system (Bell- can be decisive for the outcome of species interactions Cross and Minshull, 1988). Seasonal trends are clear in (Haertel et al., 2002). both the precipitation and the flow regime (Magadza et al., The distribution of aquatic organisms may also be 1993). Drying up of the river waters is a frequent and mediated by metals (Van der Merwe et al., 1993; Marx and important hazard . Surface water extent varies dramatically Avenant-Oldewage, 1998; Whitton, 1975; Wetzel, 2001). over time, with dry periods characterised by extreme habitat Because the aquatic ecosystems are often the sink for shrinkage and fragmentation.